Eight Samaritan Nurses Receive Recognition Awards

Published on: May 14, 2019

Event Celebrates National Nurses’ Week

Watertown, New York —– As part of its National Nurses’ Week celebration activities, Samaritan Medical Center and its Medical Staff hosted a reception and award presentation on Thursday, May 9th to recognize outstanding achievements by nursing professionals.

For this year’s recognition awards, qualified medical providers from Samaritan were invited to nominate nurses based on their outstanding contributions to the professional practice of nursing in the areas of: Quality and Safety, Education and Mentorship, Leadership, Excellence in Nursing Practice, Innovation and Leading Change, and Rookie of the Year. A total of 46 nurses were nominated for awards in six different categories. Eight nurses were chosen by the selection committee as the 2019 recipients.

“We have an incredibly gifted, committed, wonderful nursing staff at Samaritan, and National Nurses’ Week is the ideal time to celebrate their service to our patients and residents,” states Dr. Collins Kellogg, Jr., Internal Medicine, SMC Department of Medicine. “As physicians, we know full well the kinds of connections that are formed and how valuable all of our nurses are to Samaritan and to our patients.”

The 2019 award categories and recipients are as follows:

Leadership Award – One who consistently promotes the mission and vision of Samaritan; demonstrates commitment to organizational goals, priorities and strategies; promotes a culture in which employees are positive, challenged and involved; works collaboratively with other departments within the organization, and; positively promotes Samaritan within the community

Recipient: Donna MacPherson, Nurse Manager – Samaritan Keep Home 8th Floor

Education & Mentorship – One who actively shapes and promotes the career of a nurse; participates in mentorship of students or orientation of new graduates, nurses, nursing assistants, and other members of the healthcare team in supporting the provision of exceptional patient care; role models behaviors of exemplary nursing practice in an effort to improve patient care, and; advances own professional development and encourages peers.

Recipient: Jacqueline Queen, RN – Intensive Care Unit

Innovation & Leading Change – One who participates in advocacy for change of policy/procedure/standard on an organizational or unit level; introduces innovative ideas in patient care; is viewed as a formal or informal leader by staff; actively participates in the successful implementation of a new program/procedures, and; works collaboratively with other departments within the organization.

Recipient: Paulina Quay, RN – Emergency Department

Quality & Safety – One who leads and encourages shared decision-making when dealing with issues of quality, cost and patients/staff satisfaction; promotes patients and staff safety first in all activities, and; demonstrates a strong sense of inquiry and participates in/promotes evidence-based nursing practice and quality outcomes.

Recipient: Amanda Rosen, RN – Progressive Care Unit

Excellence in Nursing Practice (SMC, LTC, Clinics) – One who provides direct patient care at least 50% of the time; promotes flexibility and adaptability to situations; provides a positive work environment; serves as a role model to staff; utilizes current research and professional literature in practice; promotes change in the healthcare environment for improvement of healthcare; collaborates with nursing colleagues and other health-related professionals to facilitate quality care, and; promotes a professional image of nursing.

Recipients:
Samaritan Medical Center: ShyLeigh Gushlaw, RN – Surgical Services/OR
Long Term Care: Shanin Maitland, LPN – Samaritan Keep Home 8th Floor
Clinics: Santina LaVancha, LPN – Samaritan Family Health Network – Plaza

Rookie of the Year – One who has entered into practice within the past two years; consistently demonstrates excellence in his/her professional practice as a new nurse; demonstrates responsibility for own professional development, and; displays strong interpersonal relationships and communication skills.

Recipient: Carol Lynn Reichert, RN – Inpatient Mental Health Unit